As part of our work to restore and preserve the region’s shoreline, SANDAG maintains several monitoring programs. These programs measure the ways beaches change over time, the health of coastal habitat, and the effectiveness of beach sand management efforts.
Regional Shoreline Monitoring Program
Since 1996, SANDAG’s Regional Shoreline Monitoring Program has been measuring the changes in beach width over time, documenting the benefits of sand replenishment projects, and improving the design and effectiveness of beach fills. This comprehensive program provided valuable data for the design of the 2001 and 2012 Regional Beach Sand Replenishment projects, and it has helped guide the selection of candidate beach sites for Regional Beach Sand Project III planning.
Shoreline Photo Monitoring
Since 2008, SANDAG has taken monthly photos along the San Diego coast to create a visual log of the shifting shoreline. Of course, beaches change seasonally and are generally at their widest in the summer and narrowest in winter. But when viewed on a year-over-year basis, these photos help identify erosion “hotspots” along the San Diego coastline. Tidal information is derived from the NOAA Tides and Currents website.
Download photos and see the data in the Annual Reports resources below. For more information, contact Associate Regional Planner Courtney Becker at courtney.becker@sandag.org.